Women in Cannabis

What Every Pediatric Gynecologist Should Know About Marijuana Use in Adolescents

In summary

A recent article has called for pediatric gynecologists to ward against the use of cannabis in adolescent females. By pointing out the inconsistent conclusions from multiple papers discussing the effect of cannabis use on neural development and fertility the author hopes to reduce the number of adolescent females utilizing cannabis. It is also pointed out that very little is known about the association between cannabis and mental health problems such as various forms of psychosis, anxiety, and depression. Considering how little conclusive evidence has been agreed upon by overarching associations of medical professions it does seem appropriate to warn against the risks of recreational cannabis but not without also acknowledging the possible benefits of medical cannabis.

While there are many inconsistencies surrounding cannabis research some of the inconsistent conclusions can be heavily biased by funding parties. Biased articles are difficult to get around because they require fully delving into the material listed analyzed in the paper and looking into the studies that were included and left out of the meta-analysis to determine the validity of their findings. It is extremely frustrating to have articles presented to the public that are so heavily biased they cherry-pick data just to prove their side of a politically controversial therapy. Not all cannabis use is beneficial and is not well understood, but posting articles like this one give fodder to people attempting to prevent the rescheduling of cannabis so that specific chemicals can be harnessed for novel therapies to treat ailments we have no effective treatment for, such as Alzheimer’s, specific cancer types, and a slew of psychiatric disorders. Scientists have a responsibility to remain objective and this type of biased research is disappointing to come across.

A recent study conducted by Brown University found that adolescent female cannabis users were less likely than their peers to engage in sexual intercourse. It remains uncertain whether cannabis is reducing participants’ desire to engage in sexual intercourse or if there is a second common factor that wards them away from intercourse. Within the same population, it was found that the participants who consumed alcohol were far more likely to engage in sexual intercourse that day than controls or cannabis users. This knowledge may aid in the development of prevention programs, specifically for those consuming alcohol underage and then engaging in sexual intercourse, defined as a high-risk behavior in this study.

Adolescent cannabis use is a hot topic of conversation as state governments continue to legalize medical and recreational cannabis. At-home cultivators and those who maintain a large amount of cannabis at their homes need to ensure proper storage and restriction methods to ensure the safety of their children. Too little is known about the long-term effects of cannabis to allow adolescents to have unsupervised access to cannabis. There should also be more studies conducted addressing the effect of cannabis-based medications in adolescents so it can be deemed safe to give children for various disorders or if it affects neural development.

Recommendations for the medical management of chronic venous disease- The role of Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF)

In Summary:

A recent review has affirmed that treating chronic venous disease with Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF) therapy is safe and effective. After reviewing 250 papers, the authors have found a large body of supportive evidence that the MPFF treatment, known as Diosmiplex, is effective for healing venous ulcers on its own or in combination with compression therapy. Diosmiplex, the only MPFF prescribed in the United States, as of 2017, is derived from orange rinds and favorable among patients due to its high safety rating.

Dr. Caplan and the #MDTake:

Flavonoids are one of the categories of natural compounds produced in nature, including within the innate production system of the cannabis plant. Several patients have reported using strong cannabis topical agents to help venous insufficiency and disease, including conditions such as varicose veins, phlebitis, and post-surgical venous incompetence.

Earlier this June, a review was published that encourages oncologists to recommend cannabis products to their patients as a safe and effective method of palliative care. The opinion piece highlights how cannabis is a useful treatment for a variety of illnesses (nausea, vomiting, sleep, mood, anxiety), and encourages practitioners to prescribe cannabis for their patients so that they can appreciate the safety and effectiveness of the product.

Regulators and mechanisms of anoikis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)- a review

In Summary:

Researchers are always exploring new methods to treat highly aggressive forms of breast cancer. As the scientific culture opens up to cannabis as a natural pharmaceutical factory, eyes have been drawn to the individual chemical components born inside cannabis, namely cannabinoids, terpenoids, and flavonoid compounds. Recently, a group stumbled upon a promising synthetic flavonoid derivative. This derivative, named GL-V9, has been found to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors and has shown other anti-metastatic properties. The growth-stopping and anti-spreading effects would address two of the central aspects of TNBC that have thus far made it difficult to treat. The growing understanding of flavonoids and their potential therapeutic benefits seem all but sure to enshrine its place among future research regarding cancer treatments.

Dr. Caplan and the #MDTake:

In scientific and medical circles, it’s not uncommon to hear the phrase, “everything causes cancer.” It’s often repeated contemptuously, a tongue-in-cheek expression that calls attention to unknowns associated with the spawning and growth of cancers but also bends to the hurricane force of nature’s impact on living organisms. As living biology, cancers are born and thrive while provided sustenance by particular inputs and supports. Because of this fact, there are also innumerable opportunities to stifle or prevent the birth of tumors and many avenues to interrupt its growth or end the life of cancer cells.

The human cultural history has taught all cultures that sleep, exercise, fruits, vegetables, fiber, and water are all required ingredients for sustained, healthy growth. What is it about fruits and veggies that is healthy? They have fiber that is healthy for the human digestive tract, but they also have natural components, terpenes and flavonoids, which support wellness, healing, and the normal cycling (features of both living and dying) of our cells. Cancer represents the inappropriate over-replication of cells. In a sense, the body’s natural ability to end the cells which are not responding to normal signals is lost. If we know that the cannabis factory happens to produce many of the same compounds that are found elsewhere in vegetation and fruits, is it so surprising that we would see cancer-fighting effects?

Prenatal maternal cannabis and tobacco use is predictive of behavioral problems among toddlers. Resulting differences from control groups include anxiety, depression, and attention problems. Female children of mom’s consuming substances, in particular, seem to be more susceptible to problems relating to internalization, attention, and sleep. Additionally, the behavioral problems induced by prenatal cannabis and tobacco consumption often lead to further maternal substance consumption, which frequently exacerbates existing behavioral problems.

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